While most of us might regard Pierre de La Rue as a composer of 'early' music, for Dr Page and his Gothic Voices this is bordering on the avant garde: this recording represents a leap forward a century from the group's more accustomed repertoire, and the results are impressive to say the least.

La Rue was remarkably prolific; at least twenty-nine Masses can be ascribed to him with confidence, and the Missa De Feria and Missa Sancta Dei genitrix are among the finest. His music is full of imitation, a sense of choreography, and is coloured by a fondness for particularly low registers.

In addition to the two Masses, this disc includes the large-scale Pater de celis Deus, arguably the grandest of La Rue's motets and a work full of counterpoint in its three-part, six-voice canon, and three other motets performed as lute intabulations in editions specially prepared for this recording by Christopher Wilson.

CDH55296 64 minutes 36 seconds

‘The beauty and integrity of La Rue's music warrant a strong recommendation’ (Gramophone)‘Gothic Voices have once again opened a window on a forgotten world’ (BBC Music Magazine)‘A revelation, not only of top-rate neglected music, but also how it should sound. A perfect marriage of musical style and scholarship. Insight and enjoyment hand in hand’ (Classic CD)